Pep Guardiola responds to Sam Allardyce claims over comparison with top managers
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has agreed with Sam Allardyce’s claims this week that he is as good as the Spaniard, as well as the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta.
Allardyce has returned to management for the first time since 2021 in a bid to save Leeds from potential relegation after they opted to sack Javi Gracia.
The brief former England boss has enjoyed success as a ‘firefighter’ appointment in the past and was known for a very direct style of play at Bolton. That perception has arguably overshadowed a little talked about penchant for detailed preparation and pioneering use of sports science.
Allardyce was widely mocked for his comments upon his arrival at Leeds.
"I might be 68 and look old and antiquated but there's nobody ahead of me in football terms. Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta," he said. "It's all there with me. They do what they do and I do what I do.
"In terms of knowledge, I am not saying I'm better than them but I'm certainly as good as they are."
When Guardiola had the chance to respond on Thursday, the City boss got in Allardyce’s corner and praised a number of older English coaches, suggesting it is not only younger coaches under 50 who are capable of innovative management and positive results.
“He is right. I want to be honest, look what happened with Neil Warnock in Huddersfield. These incredible managers, they have done this Premier League or this competition is better? It looks like now the young managers with the tactics,” Guardiola explained.
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"They are really good, they help us to be who we are. Look at Roy Hodgson with Crystal Palace, what they have done. They are really good, have incredible experience, they know the game perfectly. What Harry Redknapp has done. There are many English managers who have done really well, you don’t have to be young to be a good manager. As much experience you have, you are good."
City face Leeds at the weekend and Guardiola expects it to be ‘tough’.
"[Allardyce] has the charisma, will put on the pressure to the players and knows exactly what to do in these relegation battles,” he said.
“It looks like these type of old managers, now people at 35, 40, 45, 'we invent football'. No, football is already created. These guys belong to the league, help us to do it. Neil Warnock, Huddersfield was last place and now already out of the dangerous positions.”
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